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Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | Qatar Airways Cup
Springboks player ratings: Sound the alarm. Ring the bells. Tell your friends and neighbours. The Springboks are coming to France to win back their Rugby World Cup crown.
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This 35-7 win over the All Blacks in London was as dominant as they have been since their dismantling of England in the 2019 World Cup final. If they play like that in the coming months, no one will beat them. Just outstanding from front to back.
They made a very good New Zealand side look ordinary. Here are the Springboks player ratings:
15. Damian Willemse – 8
Jiggled this way and that and found space in a contest where there was little on offer. A more traditional full-back’s game where he covered the field and provided some assistance in the backline when called upon. Perhaps lacked the same penetration Willie le Roux might have offered if given the same amount of time on the ball, but a very handy display.
14. Kurt-Lee Arendse – 7
It was his speed in defence that earned him his try. With very little ball, he still showed some spark. Solid when asked to tackle as well.
13. Canan Moodie – 9
Well, that answers the question concerning his abilities at 13. Missed a few tackles on defence but played a key role in preventing the All Blacks from scoring in the corner at the end of the first half. Was unfortunate to have a blistering second-half try disallowed after stepping half the population of New Zealand on his way to the line. A wonder find for the Boks.
12. Andre Esterhuizen – 9
Immense. Largely used as a battering ram but he played his role to perfection. It isn’t every day someone runs over Jordie Barrett, but Esterhuizen did that as if it were routine. Made 62 metres from seven carries but also showed some deft touches when needed. He is in the form of his life.
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11. Makazole Mapimpi – 7
Like Arendse, was mostly confined to a spectator. When asked to get involved he did so like a man with a point to prove. Powerful runs and aggressive on defence. The bounce of the ball here, an extra metre to work with in the trams there, a little more accurate in the off-load elsewhere and he might have scored and assisted a try or two. Subbed for Cobus Reinach on 63 minutes.
10. Manie Libbok – 8
Answered some questions about his kicking with a perfect display from the tee. Ignited several show-stopping attacks with his trademark passing. Not his best game kicking out of hand, but then he has never claimed to be perfect.
9. Faf de Klerk – 8
His usual antagonistic self. Knew when to get involved and when to let his forwards power up the field. Contributed with some tidy defensive work and even helped steal a penalty. Cemented his status as the Boks’ leading nine.
1. Steven Kitshoff – 8
Another powerful show. Was erroneously penalised once in the scrum but otherwise helped establish dominance up front. Subbed for Ox Nche on 47 minutes.
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2. Malcolm Marx – 9
Now the Springboks’ top try-scoring forward. As brutal as you’d expect. Just a sublime rugby player at the peak of his powers. Replaced by Bongi Mbonambi on 47 minutes.
3. Frans Malherbe – 8
Mr Reliable delivered once again. What else can be said of this walking, hulking scrum machine that isn’t cooed by his adoring fanbase? Hooked as part of the bomb squad explosion on 47 minutes for Trevor Nyakane.
4. Eben Etzebeth – 9
The beating heart of the Springboks pack. He consumed anything in black that came near him. A menace in the lineout with some vital steals, and a vital cog in the maul both defensively and on offence. Possibly South Africa’s most important player. Subbed for Jean Kleyn on 47.
5. Franco Mostert – 9.5
A near-perfect performance in what was his best game in a Springboks jersey. Should have been awarded the player of the match gong. Stole the ball, won the ball, dominated the ball, was the focal point of so much that worked for South Africa. There were doubts about his name. Those were swept away here. Replaced on 47 by RG Snyman.
6. Siya Kolisi – 8
Strong carries and some lovely touches in the trams are what makes Kolisi one of the game’s leading flanks. Both traits were on show. Brilliant from the Boks captain. Hooked for Marco van Staden on 47.
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit – 8
Was rightly shown yellow for a swinging arm to the face of Sam Cane but otherwise faultless. Catapulted out of the line when defending, this human torpedo was born to tackle ball-carriers.
8. Duane Vermeulen – 7
It wasn’t exactly a quiet evening, it’s just that he kept things simple and allowed others around him to shine. Secured the ball when he got his hefty frame over it.
REACTION: Nienaber on his 7/1 bomb squad bench and what beating the All Blacks by a record margin meant for South Africa. #Springboks #NZLvRSA #QatarCup #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/6fY2pgKOUS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 26, 2023
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi – 8
It speaks volumes that he assumed the captaincy duties when Kolisi left the field. He is a leader in this group and got the try he deserved. One of the world’s most improved players over the last cycle.
17. Ox Nche – 8
Once again maintained momentum when he entered the scene.
18. Trevor Nyakane – 8.5
The best prop on the field over the 80 minutes. Dynamic in the loose and indomitable at set-piece.
19. Jean Kleyn – 8.5
Won a penalty on the ground, stole New Zealand’s lineout and was a central figure in South Africa’s maul attack. Ticked every box.
20. RG Snyman – 8.5
Won the lineout that led to Mbonambi’s try but he did a lot more than that. Powered his way past would-be tacklers and ran with the ball as if it was the size of a cricket ball. A supreme athlete.
21. Marco van Staden – 7
Kept the pace up and never allowed the All Blacks’ pack to settle after the raft of changes.
22. Cobus Reinach – 7
Deployed on the wing and did his job with some hard runs.
23. Kwagga Smith – 8
Is he a forward? Is he a back? In truth, he is both. A hot-stepping, tough tackling, try-scoring beast.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
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